Cleaning apparatus

ABSTRACT

A cleaning apparatus includes different combinations of a reduced compressible material substrate and a thicker paddle head, and a reduced radius tip to clean sharp corners. A slide lock holds one pin end of the handle to the cleaning head. A small sized cleaning head with at least two reduced radius tips is also disclosed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This continuation application claims priority benefit to co-pending U.S.patent application Ser. No. 14/216,563 filed Mar. 17, 2014, now U.S.Pat. No. 9,402,515, which claims priority benefit to U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application Ser. No. 61/792,262, filed Mar. 15, 2013, U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/879,819, filed Sep. 19, 2013and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/896,734, filed Oct.29, 2013, the contents of each of which are incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates, in general, to cleaning apparatus and,more specifically, to apparatus for cleaning glass.

Various tools are available to clean glass, such as the exterior surfaceof vehicle windows. Such tools typically include a handle and aperpendicularly oriented cleaning element, such as a wiper blade, spongerubber pad, and combinations thereof. Water or ammonia-based cleaningfluid is applied to the exterior surface of the vehicle window andscraped off by the tools to remove debris. Such tools are easy to use onthe exterior surface of vehicle windows since the exterior surface ofthe vehicle windows is easily accessible both to apply cleaning fluid tothe windows and to remove the fluid and debris from the windows.

However, such tools are ineffective in cleaning the inner surface ofvehicle windows. The extreme angles of the vehicle windshield andbacklight with respect to the dashboard and rear seat shelf inconjunction with adjacent vehicle components, such as the rear-viewmirror, steering wheel and rear, center brake light housing make itdifficult to get the edges of a cleaning tool close to the extreme loweredges of the windshield and backlight. In addition, applying fluid,which is typically in the form of a spray, to the inner surfaces of thewindshield and backlight results in a significant amount of the spraybeing deposited on the underlying horizontal surfaces adjacent to thewindows, such as the vehicle dashboard and the rear shelf.

Thus, the most common implements used to clean the inner surfaces ofvehicle windows are sponges, rags, and paper towels. Manual force isexerted through the user's hands to manually apply cleaning fluid and/orspray to the inner surface of the windows and then to manipulate thecleaning element in a back and forth or circular motion across thesurface of the windows. While a user may be able with a considerableamount of effort to clean most of the inner surface of the vehiclewindow, it is still difficult to completely clean the edges of thewindow and, more importantly, the lower edges of a vehicle windshieldand backlight.

A variety of tools has been devised specifically to clean the innersurfaces of vehicle windows. Such tools are typically formed of a padwhich is connected to an elongated handle. A cleaning element isattached to one side of the pad by various means including clips,straps, or hooks and pile fasteners. However, each of these tools isspecifically devised for a single type of cleaning operation, such asscrubbing or drying, but not both.

An improved and more effective cleaning apparatus is disclosed in U.S.Pat. Nos. 7,231,684 and 6,795,999, the current version of which is shownin FIGS. 1-7B. In the illustrated cleaning apparatus, the innerabsorbent layer between the bottom surface of the paddle and theencompassing cleaning element or bonnet is formed of an easilycompressible foam material. Besides being absorbent, the foam layerprovides a high friction-gripping surface for the cleaning element orbonnet to retain the cleaning element or bonnet in its formed shape andin continuous contact with the underlying surface being cleaned.

However, the substrate foam layer is severely affected by the cleaninghead design, which results in a non-existent cleaning outcome in severalcritical areas of the cleaning apparatus, typically at the tip andcorner edges of the paddle and along the side edges between the tip andthe corner edges of the paddle.

The combination of the height of the foam layer which has a 3/16th inchthickness and projects outward from the 1/16th inch length peripherallip of the paddle by another ⅛th inch, along with the acting force ofthe elastic cleaning element cover attached over the paddle results inthe foam layer being compressed at the tip and corner edges and/or theside edges of the paddle to the point that the foam is unable to retainits full thickness at each of the critical tip and corner edges and/oralong the side edges. This results in separation of the cleaning elementbelow this portion of the foam layer from contact with the surface beingcleaned, as shown in FIG. 5, 6, 7B, resulting in incomplete cleaning ofthe entire surface.

The existing cleaning apparatus has a 1/16th inch peripheral lip orridge added to a uniformly thick 1/16th inch cleaning head or paddle toaid in increasing the structural integrity of the thin 1/16th inchcleaning head. This creates a paddle with a ⅛th inch total height forperipheral edge wall. A one-inch wide cutout of the 1/16th inchperimeter wall height at the center side areas of the cleaning headadjacent to the handle receivers was added to aid in cleaning headflexibility.

SUMMARY

A cleaning apparatus that includes a cleaning head having a top surface,a bottom surface and a peripheral edge, a handle pivotally coupled tothe cleaning head, a cleaning element removably affixed to the cleaninghead, and a compressive material substrate mounted on a bottom surfaceof the cleaning head.

The cleaning element includes a body and elastic for removably securingthe body over the bottom surface and the peripheral edge of the cleaninghead. The compressive material substrate is mounted on a bottom surfaceof the cleaning head within the peripheral lip and projects below an endof the peripheral lip by between 0.001 to 0.094 inches.

The peripheral lip has a length from the cleaning head of 0.0625 inches,and a total thickness of the compressive material layer is from 0.0635to 0.1565 inches.

The cleaning head defines a concave shape in the bottom surface from atip end to an opposed end.

The peripheral edge of the cleaning head has a greater thickness than athickness of a central portion of the cleaning head, and the bottomsurface of the cleaning head gradually decreasing in thickness from theperipheral edge to a central portion of the cleaning head.

The bottom surface of the cleaning head linearly decreases in thicknessfrom the peripheral edge toward the central portion of the cleaninghead.

The bottom surface of the cleaning head arcuately decreases in thicknessfrom the peripheral edge toward the central portion of the cleaninghead.

A recess is disposed in the top surface of the cleaning head forming areduced thickness in the cleaning head, and a compressive foam substratecarried on the bottom surface of the cleaning head. The recess extendslaterally across the cleaning head between opposed sides of the cleaninghead.

The cleaning head has a thickness of between greater than 1/16th inch to0.25 inches, and the compressive material substrate extends from thecleaning head to about 0.0156 inches.

The cleaning head has a tip end with a radius from about 1.0 mm to lessthan 19.05 mm.

The cleaning apparatus has a pair of receivers carried on the cleaninghead releasably engageable with opposed pin ends of a handle topivotally attach the handle to the cleaning head. One of the receiverson the cleaning head carries a movable lock member movable between afirst position allowing insertion of one pin end of the handle into onereceiver and a closed lock position preventing separation of the pin endof the handle from the cleaning head.

The cleaning head can have a six-sided peripheral shape formed of twolongitudinally spaced tip ends and four peripheral corners.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The various features, advantages and other uses of the present cleaningapparatus will become more apparent by referring to the followingdetailed description and drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art cleaning apparatus;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the cleaning head and cleaningelement of the prior art cleaning apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the prior art cleaning apparatus, withthe cleaning element removed;

FIG. 4 is an exploded, perspective view showing the prior art attachmentof one end of the handle to the cleaning head;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are side elevational views of the prior art cleaning headand cleaning element shown in FIGS. 1-4 in use position;

FIGS. 7A and 7B are enlarged, partial, side-elevational views showingthe construction and use of the prior art cleaning apparatus shown inFIGS. 1-6;

FIGS. 8A and 8B are partial, enlarged perspective views in one aspect ofa new cleaning apparatus according to the invention;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged, partial, side elevational view showing thecleaning head and cleaning element depicted in FIGS. 8A and 8B, in a useposition;

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of the cleaning head and cleaningelement initial contact position with a surface to be cleaned;

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view of the cleaning head and cleaningelement, shown in FIG. 10, in a use position;

FIGS. 12A and 12B are side elevational views showing the cleaning headin an initial contact and a use position;

FIGS. 12C and 12D are enlarged, partial, side-elevational views of thenew cleaning apparatus head and cleaning element configurations;

FIGS. 12E and 12F are side-elevational views of the prior art cleaninghead shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIGS. 12G and 12 H are enlarged, partial, side-elevational views of theprior art cleaning head shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 13 is a plan view of an aspect of a cleaning head;

FIG. 14 is a side-elevational view of the aspect of the cleaning headshown in FIG. 13;

FIG. 15A is a side-elevational view of the cleaning head shown in FIG.14, with a cleaning element attached;

FIG. 15B is a lateral cross-sectional view of the cleaning head shown inFIGS. 14 and 15A, without the cleaning element and the foam layer;

FIG. 16A is a partial, enlarged, left side perspective view showing anew handle 10 sliding lock mechanism;

FIG. 16B is a partial, enlarged perspective view of the sliding lockmechanism depicted in a closed, locked position;

FIG. 17 is a plan view of the cleaning head shown in FIGS. 16A and 16B;

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view through the sliding lock mechanism ofFIGS. 16A and 17;

FIG. 19 is a plan view of another aspect of a cleaning head;

FIG. 20 is a partial side-elevational view of the cleaning head shown inFIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is a plan view of another aspect of a cleaning head;

FIG. 22 is a partial side elevational view of the cleaning head shown inFIG. 21;

FIG. 23 is an exploded perspective view of another aspect of a cleaningapparatus with a narrow range radius tip;

FIG. 24 is a partial, plan view of the cleaning apparatus shown in FIG.23;

FIG. 25 is a plan view of another aspect of a cleaning apparatus;

FIG. 26 is a plan view of another aspect of a cleaning apparatus;

FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 27-27 in FIG. 26;

FIG. 28 is an alternate example of a cross-sectional view taken alonglines 27-27 in FIG. 26 showing a cleaning element wrapped around the tipsimilar to that shown in FIG. 24; and

FIG. 29 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 29-29 in FIG. 26.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A prior art cleaning apparatus 200 includes a handle 202 having amounting hangar 204 at a first end 206. A handgrip portion 208 extendsfrom the first end 206 and is formed or covered with a high friction,easily grippable material.

The handle 202 continues from the handgrip portion 208 through a solidportion 210 to a T-shaped second end 212. Mounting pins 214 and 216,which may be integrally molded as part of the end 212 or fixedly mountedin the end 212, project oppositely from the end 212. A cleaning head 219includes a paddle 220 has a generally triangular shape formed of an end222, opposed angled or gently curved sides 224 and 226, an apex or tip228 opposite the end 222, and corners or corner edges 221 and 223 formedbetween the end 222 and the sides 224 and 226. The center portion of thesides 224 and 226 may be raised slightly from a plane extending betweenthe end 222 and the tip 228 along a longitudinal axis of the paddle 220to form at least the bottom surface of the paddle 220 in a concaveshape. The entire paddle 220 may have the same concave shape.Alternately, the central portion of the paddle 220 may have a reducedthickness than the end 222 and tip 228.

Receivers 230 and 232 are integrally or separately fixed to one surfaceof the paddle 220. The receiver 230 is in the form of a body having anarcuate outer shape, for example. A bore 234 extends through at leastone side of the first receiver 230 and opens toward the oppositereceiver 232.

In this aspect, the receiver 232 forms a snap connection with the pin214 on the handle 202. The receiver 232, shown in detail in FIGS. 2 and4, is formed of first and second resiliently movable, spring legs 240and 242. The legs 240 and 242 project from the top surface of the paddle220 to an outer end 244 and 246, respectively. The inner surfaces of thelegs 240 and 242 have a generally arcuate shape 248 and 250, sized topivotally receive and capture the pin 214 on the handle 202, as clearlyshown in FIG. 4. The inner space or distance between the ends 244 and246 of the legs 240 and 242, respectively, is less than the outerdiameter of the pin 214.

In use, the pin 214 is forced through the opening between the ends 244and 246 of the legs 240 and 242 bending the legs 240 and 242 outwarduntil the entire pin 214 passes through the ends 244 and 246. At thistime, the legs 240 and 242 snap back to a normal position rotatablycapturing the pin 214 therein.

If it is desirable to separate the handle 202 from the paddle 220, areverse operation is employed in which the pin 214 is forcibly pulledthrough the opening between the ends 244 and 246 of the legs 240 and242.

As shown in FIG. 4, an aperture 252 may be formed at a bottom portion ofthe legs 240 and 242 to facilitate resilient movement or bending of thelegs 240 and 242 as described above.

It will be understood that the snap-connection provided by the receiver232 can also be repeated for the receiver 230 by forming the receiver230 in the same manner as the receiver 232.

For enhanced rigidity of the paddle 220, while still retaining theflexibility of the paddle 220 to adapt the concave shape of the bottomsurface of the paddle 220 to a window or glass surface, a peripheralridge or lip 270 is integrally formed on the paddle 220 along the sideedges 224 and 226 and the end 222 to substantially completely encompassthe entire periphery of the bottom surface of the paddle 220. The lip270 surrounds an inner disposed absorbent layer 260, describedhereafter. A notch or cutout 272 is formed along each side edge of thelip 270 underlying the side edges 224 and 226 of the paddle 220 andgenerally centered along the lateral axis of the receivers 230 and 232.The notch 272 enhances the flexibility of the paddle 220 when a downwardforce is exerted on the paddle 220 through the handle 202.

The cleaning apparatus including a cleaning element formed of a dryingelement 250 mountable on the paddle 220 is shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 6 and7B. The drying element 250 is in the form of a pliable body 252 sized toreleasably mount about the paddle 220. The body 252 has a first majorsurface 254 which is disposable under the bottom surface of the paddle220 and a peripheral edge 256 surrounding an open end. The peripheraledge 256 may be stitched to prevent unraveling or separation of thefibers forming in the body 252. Preferably, the body 252 is formed of anabsorbent material, such as cotton, etc.

Elastic means 258 in the form of an elastic band is stitched orotherwise attached to the peripheral edge 256 of the body 252 to providean elastic force for closing the peripheral edge 256 to a small opendiameter to thereby securely, yet releasably mount the body 252 aboutthe paddle 220. At the same time, the elastic means 258 allows the body252 to be easily removed from the paddle 220 and replaced with a clean,dry body 252 when necessary.

It will be understood that the body 252 may be provided in differentsizes to conform to the shape and size of the larger or smaller paddles.

As shown in FIG. 2, an absorbent layer or pad 260 of substantially thesame shape as the paddle 220 is interposed between a bottom surface ofthe paddle 220 and the body 252 to provide fluid absorbent features. Thepad 260 can be loosely interposed between the paddle 220 and the body252 or fixed on the paddle 220 by adhesive or other suitable means.

The body 252 can be formed of a mesh or rough material to act as ascrubbing surface in conjunction with the fluid filled absorbent layer260 which dispenses fluid during the scrubbing operation. Thus, the body252 and the absorbent layer 260 function as a scrubbing element to applycleaning fluid to a window and, with suitable scrubbing movement, tosimultaneously loosen dirt and other debris from the window.

The body 252 may be used merely as a dusting cloth to remove dust from avehicle window or other interior vehicle surface. Further, the body 252and the interior absorbent layer 260 are ideally suited to act as asponge and scrubbing surface in applying cleaning fluid or water to theinterior surface of a vehicle window and scrubbing or removing debrisstuck on a window.

Once absorbent layer 260 is wetted with the cleaning fluid and the body252 mounted over the bottom surface on the paddle 220, the handle 202 ofthe cleaning apparatus 200 is grasped by one hand of the user and thenmoved adjacent to the window until the body 252, contacts the interiorsurface of the window. The cleaning apparatus 200 is then moved in anymotion, such as back and forth, sideways, circular or combinationsthereof to apply the cleaning fluid to the entire interior surface ofthe window and to remove any debris stuck on the window. The body isthen removed from the handle 202 by simply reversing the insertionoperation as described above. Another clean body 252 can then beattached to the handle 202 as described above. The body 252 is thenbrought into engagement with the window and again moved in any fashionacross the entire surface of the window to dry the previously appliedcleaning fluid and remove any loose debris from the window.

If, at any time, the body 252 becomes saturated with cleaning fluid oraccumulates a significant amount of dirt or other debris, the user maysimply remove the body 252 from the associated paddle 220 and then mounta clean, dry body 252 on the paddle 220 to continue with the cleaningoperation.

However, as shown in FIGS. 6, 7A and 7B, the elastic force exerted bythe elastic edges 258 of the body 252 on the exposed portions of thefoam used to form the absorbent layer 260 which extends below the lowermost edge 274 of the peripheral lip 270 causes the body 252 to compressthe foam layer 260 at the tip or corners of the paddle 220 as well asalong the side edges of the paddle 220. The elastic force of the body252 compresses the foam layer 260 to such an extent that the edges ofthe body 252 are spaced from the underlying surface to be cleaned inboth a horizontal direction 276 and a vertical direction 278 from thetip 228. The same horizontal and vertical gaps 276 and 278 occur at thecorners 221 and 223 of the paddle 220 as well as along the side edges224 and 226 and the end 222.

When the tip end 228 or any of the side edges 224 or 226 or the end 222or the corners 221 and 223 are moved into contact with a frame orstructure surrounding the edge of a window or glass surface beingcleaned, the gaps 276 and 278 prevent the edge portions of the glass orwindow from being contacted by the body 252 and therefore are notcleaned.

Referring now to FIGS. 8A-11 there is depicted one aspect of a cleaningapparatus 28 which has significantly improved cleaning efficiency ascompared to the previously described current cleaning apparatus,particularly at the tip or corner edges and the side edges of the paddle220. The cleaning apparatus 28 is formed substantially the same as thecleaning apparatus 200 with one exception.

As shown in FIGS. 8A, 8B and 9, the thickness of the foam substrate 30that is exposed below the lower most edge 274 of the peripheral lip orwall 270 of the cleaning head 220 is reduced to a minimum. For example,the thickness 32 of the portion of the foam substrate 30 extending belowthe lower most edge 274 of the peripheral lip or wall 270 can range from0.001 inches to 0.094 inches. The total thickness 34 of the foamsubstrate 30, including a 1/16th inch of the foam substrate 30surrounded by the peripheral lip 270, is from 0.0635 to 0.1565 inches.As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the reduced thickness 32 of exposed foamsubstrate 30 eliminates the previous compression of the foam substrate30 adjacent the tip 228 or corner edges 221 and 223 and/or the sideedges 224, 226 and 222 of the paddle 220 thereby enabling the cleaningelement 250 to assume a near perpendicular bend or corner 36 as it wrapsaround the lower most edge 274 of the peripheral lip or wall 270, asshown in FIG. 9. This near perpendicular bend 36 creates a perpendicularcorner in the cleaning element body 252 which eliminates the gaps 276and 278 in the horizontal and vertical directions shown in FIGS. 5, 6,7B for improved efficiency in cleaning all exposed portions of the glassor surface to be cleaned, particularly corners or edges of the glasswhen the cleaning head 220 is brought into contact with the frame orraised edge structure surrounding the glass or surface.

The compressive material substrate may be formed of any material type,density, softness or hardness, and can include, for example, but notlimited to any type of close cell or open cell foam, gel or rubbermaterials which measure less than 0.1565 inches in thickness to aminimum thickness of 0.0635 inches. This material substrate may beemployed with cleaning head or paddle constructions having a thicknessfrom slightly greater than 1/16th inch up to 0.250 inches.

Referring now to FIGS. 12A-12D, another aspect of a cleaning apparatus100 is depicted. The cleaning apparatus 100 is substantially the same asthe cleaning apparatus 200 described above and shown in FIGS. 1-7B,except for the following enumerated differences. It should be noted thatthe paddle 102, in this aspect, does not have a peripheral depending lipas in the previously described cleaning apparatus 200.

In this aspect, the cleaning apparatus 100, has a paddle 102 which isgenerally planar in shape, but with the longitudinal concave bend from atip edge to the opposed rear edge for flexibility when forced against asurface to be cleaned. The paddle 102 itself is made thicker than theprevious 1/16th inch paddles and may be made in thickness from 0.07inches to approximately 0.250 inches. This increased thickness preventswarping of the paddle 102 and insures that all portions of the bottomsurface of the paddle 102 lay flat against and in contact with thesurface being cleaned when the cleaning apparatus 100 is moved to acleaning position as compared to the prior art paddle shown in FIGS. 12Eand 12F;

In this aspect, the foam substrate 104 is less than a ⅛th of inch thickand may have a thickness of between 0.001 inches to 0.100 inches.

The stable non-warping state of the paddle 102 and the reduced thicknessfoam substrate 104 insures that the tip, corner and side edges of thecleaning element 106 form a substantially 90° sharp edged corner as thecleaning element wraps the edges of the foam substrate 104 and thecleaning paddle 102. This presents a square corner without a gap as inprior cleaning apparatus described above, for more effective andcomplete cleaning of a surface.

The prior art paddle and foam substrate shown in FIGS. 12G and 12H, hasa thinner 1/16-inch paddle and thicker 3/16 foam which led to warpingand edge gaps when the elastic edged cleaning element was attached tothe paddle.

Another aspect of a cleaning apparatus 301 is shown in FIGS. 13-15B. Inthis aspect, the bottom surface of the cleaning head or paddle 300 lacksa peripheral lip or peripheral wall, but includes an increased thicknessat the peripheral edge 302 extending all along the peripheral edge fromthe tip 304 to the opposed corners 306, 308 and the intervening sideedges 310, 312 and 314. The bottom surface of the cleaning head 300tapers in a linear or arcuate manner from the peripheral edges 302inward of decreasing thickness toward a center 320 of the cleaning head300 in three major sections 322, 324, and 326. The center portion 320centered about the longitudinal axis of the cleaning head 300 betweenthe tip 304 and opposed ends 306, 308 of the cleaning head 300 may havea generally concave shape.

This cleaning head design provides increased rigidity of the cleaninghead 300 at the peripheral edges 302 for the tip 304 and the opposedends or corners 306 and 308 of the cleaning head 300 as well as alongthe intervening side edges 310, 312, and 314 to maintain a constantforce across the entire bottom surface of the cleaning head 300,including along the peripheral edges 302 of the cleaning head 300, whenthe cleaning apparatus 301 is moved into a use position in engagementwith a surface to be cleaned and force is exerted on the handle to thecleaning head 300 to flatten the bottom surface of the cleaning head 300into full engagement with the surface to be cleaned.

The foam substrate 330 follows the contour of the bottom surface of thepaddle 300 as shown in FIGS. 14, 15A and 15B. The cleaning element 332does the same.

As shown in FIGS. 16A-18, an aperture may be formed at a bottom portionof the legs 240 and 242 to facilitate resilient movement or bending ofthe legs 240 and 242 as described above.

It will be understood that the snap-connection provided by the receiver232 can also be repeated for the receiver 230 by forming the receiver230 in the same manner as the receiver 232.

The receiver 232 carries a movable lock member 370 for securelyretaining the pin 214 of the handle 202 in the receiver 232 to preventinadvertent separation of the handle 202 from the paddle 220 if a tipend of the paddle 220 is caught in the corner of a window frame andforce is exerted through handle 202 to the pin 214.

The lock member 370 includes a pair of channel members 350 and 352respectively extending from the upper surface of the paddle 220 anddisposed immediately adjacent an exterior surface of the legs 240 and242, respectively, of the receiver 232. Each channel member 350 and 352is formed with an inverted L-shape of two perpendicularly disposed legs354 and 356, a closed end wall 358 at one end of the channel members 350and 352 and an open end at the opposite ends of the legs 354 and 356.This configuration defines an inner channel in which are received amovable lock member 370. The movable lock member 370 includes a pair ofside legs 372 and 374 which are joined together by inward extending topends 376 and 378 and a raised center portion 380 having an interiorconcave surface complimentary to the exterior shape of the pin 214 onthe handle 202.

The lower ends of the legs 372 and 374 respectively terminate in outwardextending leg end flanges 384 and 386. The leg end flanges 384 and 386are movably disposed within the channel members 350 and 352.

This configuration enables the lock member 370 to move from a first openposition shown in FIGS. 16A, 17 to a closed lock position shown in FIG.16B. In the closed lock position, the lock member 370 overlays the pin214 in the receiver 232 to prevent inadvertent separation of the pin 214on the attached handle 202 from the paddle 220. During such movement ofthe lock member 370 between the first and second positions the channelmembers 350 and 352 provide a movable path for the leg end flanges 384and 386. At the same time, the channel members 350 and 352 preventoutward movement of the leg end flanges 384 and 386 as well as lateraloutward movement of the receiver legs 240 and 242 which could causeinadvertent release of the pin 214 on the handle 202 from the paddle220.

In use, the lock member 370 is moved to a first open position shown inFIG. 17. The pin 214 is then forced between the opening between theupper ends 244 and 246 of the legs 240 and 242. With the pin 214securely nested in the concave surfaces 248 and 250 of the receiver legs240 and 242, the lock member 370 is moved to a second lock position withthe arched center 380 overlaying the pin 214 and securing the pin 214,the legs 240 and 242 of the receiver 232 in a tight position preventinglateral outward movement of the legs 240 and 242 which could lead toinadvertent separation of the pin 214 from the receiver 232 anddisengagement of the handle 202 from the paddle 220.

Other aspects of a cleaning apparatus are shown in FIGS. 19-22. In thisconfiguration, a cleaning head 400 has a peripheral lip; but lacks thenotch in the bottom surface of the lip shown in the related currentcleaning apparatus shown in FIGS. 1-9. In this aspect, an enlarged notch402 is formed in the top surface 404 of the cleaning head 400 generallyextending laterally between two opposed side edges 406, 408 of thecleaning head 400. The notch 402 may have generally linear sidewalls412, 414 as shown in FIGS. 21, 22 or more arcuate shaped sidewalls 416,418 or a combination of arcuate ends and linear center portions as shownin FIGS. 19, 20.

For example, the cleaning head 400 may have a generally ⅛th inchthickness from tip end 420 to the opposed ends 422, 424. The notch 402is 1/16th inch deep thereby rendering the center portion of the cleaninghead 400 underlying the notch 402 only 1/16th inch thick. This addsincreased flexibility to the cleaning head 400 while maintaining amaximum cleaning head thickness of ⅛th inch at the tip end 420 and theopposed corner ends 422, 424.

This cleaning head 400 configuration eliminates warping and improvesstructural integrity of the cleaning head 400 as compared to prior artcleaning heads which typically had a 1/16th inch thickness which isprone to warping. The notch 402 extending generally centrally andlaterally across the top surface 404 of the cleaning head 400 not onlyincreases flexibility of the cleaning head when the concave bottomsurface of the cleaning head 400 is brought into flat, constant surfaceengagement with the glass or other surface to be cleaned; but alsoprovides a maximum thickness of ⅛th inch at the forward and rearwardends of the cleaning head 400 to both resist warping as well as tomaintain the tip end 420 and the opposed corner edges 422 and 424 incontact with the underlying surface to be cleaned.

In applicant's prior cleaning apparatus disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.7,213,684 and 6,795,999 and shown in FIG. 1, the tip 228 of the paddle220 had a small radius, smoothly curved shape formed at about a ¾ inchor 19.05 mm. radius.

In some uses, this prior smoothly rounded tip 228 limits the ability ofthe cleaning head or paddle 220 to fully engage in cleaning tightcorners of a window or surface, since a frame surrounding the window orsurface may have a 90° corner. To overcome this issue, the tip 228,FIGS. 23 and 24 of the present paddle 220, is formed with a radius ofbetween about 1.0 mm to less than 19.05 mm. This creates a more sharplyformed tip 228 ideal for fully engaging a tight 90° corner of a frame ata corner of a window or other surface being cleaned.

The use of separable fasteners acts as a secondary attachment of acleaning element 432 to the paddle 430. It is implemented as a “failsafe” attachment to ensure that the primary attachment means of the opencell foam construction of the cleaning head 430 with the woven fiberconstruction of the cleaning element 432 works at maximum performance.

It will be understood that one or more separable fasteners 434 and 436may be provided at the tip end 228 of the cleaning element 432 and thecleaning head 430. Alternately, secondary attachments using similarreleasable fasteners may be provided at the opposite corners of thecleaning head 430 and cleaning element 432.

In applicant's prior cleaning apparatus, the cleaning element was in theform of a bonnet having an elastic band at the outer edges to hold thecleaning element around the paddle as well as providing an inwardtensile force drawing the cloth portion of the cleaning element smoothlyacross the pad on the paddle.

However, the elastic bonnet creates tension and force against thecleaning head or paddle and can pull up the edges of the cleaning headand thus decrease the effectiveness of the cleaning edges in corners ofa window or other surface.

The attachment mechanisms described above involving a woven fibergenerally flat sheet-like cleaning element 432 and the open cellconstruction of the pad allows many types of wipe materials to work withthe cleaning head since the compression, friction and pressure generatedby the cleaning head 430 as it pushes down on the work surface assistsin holding all types of wipe materials in place on the paddle 220.

The sheet-like cleaning element 432 eliminates substantial product costsince the need for an elastic means to secure the current bonnet overthe cleaning head or paddle is eliminated. In addition, the sheet likecleaning element 432 does not create any tension or negative forceacting against the tip ends of the cleaning head 430 on the paddle.Thus, one hundred percent of the cleaning head surface remains inconstant contact with the surface being cleaned.

Referring now to FIG. 25, there is depicted another aspect of a cleaningelement 550 which uses some of the components and elements describedpreviously in other aspects of the cleaning elements. In this aspect,the handle 552 has the same shape as the handle 202, except that it ishas a reduced size since the cleaning head or paddle 554 is smaller thanthe cleaning head or paddle 220. The paddle 554 includes a peripheraledge 520.

The cleaning head 554 has a lateral length between opposed side tips 556and 558 of approximately 6.0 inches, for example only. The cleaning head554 has a width of approximately 3.0 inches between opposed sides 560and 562, again for example only.

The cleaning head 554 has a plurality of sharp corners which form thetips 556 and 558 as well as interior corners 564, 566, 568 and 570. Anyof the tips 556 and 558 or the interior corners 564, 566, 568 and 570may be used to engage a corner of a surface being cleaned, such as theframe surrounding a window or mirror, etc. The tips 556 and 558, whichcan have the small radius sharp design described above for the tip 228of approximately 1.0 mm to less than 19.05 mm, allow full insertion ofthe tips 556 and 558 into sharp corners of a frame surrounding a surfacebeing cleaned.

The cleaning apparatus 550 also employs the open cell foam pad and wovenfiber cleaning element or wipe described above.

The handle 552 is attached to the cleaning head or paddle 554 by meansof the receivers 574 and 576 similar to the receivers 230 and 232,described above and the movable slide lock member 370.

Referring now to FIGS. 26-29, there is depicted another aspect of acleaning apparatus 600. The cleaning apparatus 600 includes a cleaninghead 601 substantially the same as that described above in FIG. 12A-D or23. The cleaning head 601 includes a paddle 650. The cleaning head 601includes receivers 630 and 632.

The cleaning head 601 has a downward, toward the head 601 bottom surface602, formed tip 604 and corners 606,608 and alternately side edges 610,612, 614 extending from the more planar central portion of the cleaninghead.

In the example shown in FIGS. 27 and 28, the downward bent or formed tip604 and corner ends 606, 608 shown in FIG. 29 or the side edges 610,612, 614 (not shown) can be pre-formed to the desired downward angle 603during the molding of the cleaning head 601 or bent after the head 601has been formed.

For example, the tip 604 and opposed ends 606, 608 of the cleaning head601 can be bent to a linear, obtuse angle 603 from the bottom surface602 of the central portion of the cleaning head 601 as shown in FIG. 27.Alternately, the tip 604 and opposed ends 606, 608 may be bent in adownward direction away from the central portion 602 of the cleaninghead 601 in a gradual radius or curve (not shown).

The length of the bent area of the tip 604 and the opposed ends 606,608, or the side edges 610, 612, and 614, may vary from ½ to 1 inch inlength from the outer edge of the cleaning head 601. It is understoodthat other lengths may be used.

As shown in a pre-use position prior to force being exerted through thehandle to the cleaning head 601, the tip 604 and corners ends 606, 608initially engage the surface to be cleaned. When downward force isexerted on the cleaning head 601 through the handle, the cleaning head601 flattens in a normal manner thereby bringing the entire bottomsurface 602 of the cleaning head 601 and the attached cleaning element620 into contact with the surface to be cleaned. However, the downwardbent tip 604, corner ends 606, 608, or side edges 610, 612, 614 exert anadditional downward force on the peripheral edges, or the adjacentcleaning element surface in contact with the cleaning head peripheraledge, of the cleaning element thereby maintaining the cleaning elementin contact with the surface to be cleaned despite any angularpositioning of the cleaning head 600 over the surface to be cleaned.

In one example (not shown), a compressive material substrate may beconnected to the bottom surface 602 of head 601, for example as shown inFIG. 12C. It is further understood that cleaning element 620 mayremovably connect solely to the compressive material substrate and notwrap around tip 604 as shown in FIGS. 24 and 28 or other portions ofhead 601.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A cleaning head comprising a paddle having:a) a central portion which is substantially planar; b) a tip endintegral with and adjacent to the central portion; c) two opposed endsopposite the tip end, distanced from one another, and integral with andadjacent to the central portion; d) a top surface opposing a bottomsurface, both the top surface and the bottom surface being part of thecentral portion, the tip end, and the two opposed ends; e) a peripheraledge defining a periphery of the paddle, including a plurality of sideedges part of the central portion and which extend between the tip endand the opposed ends; wherein the peripheral edge, the top surface, andthe bottom surface at the tip end and the two opposed ends angledownward relative to the plurality of side edges so that the tip end andthe opposed ends of the cleaning head are positioned at a downward anglerelative to the top surface and the bottom surface of the centralportion; and wherein the downward angle of the tip end and the opposedends is configured to generate downward force on the tip end and theopposed ends of the cleaning head when the cleaning head is engaged witha surface to be cleaned.
 2. The cleaning head of claim 1, wherein thetip end and the two opposed ends of the cleaning head are positioned ata linear obtuse angle relative to both the bottom surface and theplurality of side edges of the central portion.
 3. The cleaning head ofclaim 1, wherein tip end and the two opposed ends of the cleaning headare positioned at an arcuate downward bend relative to both the bottomsurface and the plurality of side edges of the central portion.
 4. Thecleaning head of claim 1, wherein a compressive material substrate isadhered to the bottom surface of the paddle; and wherein the compressivematerial substrate is configured to releasably connect a cleaningelement to the paddle such that the compressive material substrate islocated between the cleaning element and the bottom surface of thepaddle.
 5. The cleaning head of claim 4, wherein the releasableconnection of the cleaning element to the cleaning head is solely to thecompressive material substrate.
 6. The cleaning head of claim 4, whereinthe compressive material substrate comprises a thickness less than 0.125inches.
 7. The cleaning head of claim 6, wherein the thickness of thecompressive material substrate is between 0.001 to 0.1 inches.
 8. Thecleaning head of claim 4, wherein the cleaning head includes thecleaning element which is releasably connected to the compressivematerial substrate.
 9. The cleaning head of claim 4, wherein thecleaning element comprises a woven fiber.
 10. The cleaning head of claim1, wherein the cleaning head has a thickness of 0.07 inches toapproximately 0.25 inches, and wherein the thickness is a distancebetween the top surface and the bottom surface.
 11. The cleaning head ofclaim 1 wherein the tip end and the opposed ends are 0.5 inches to 1.0inches in length from the peripheral edge.
 12. The cleaning head ofclaim 1, wherein the tip end is formed by the cleaning head narrowing toa sharp tip having a radius between about 1.0 mm and about 19.05 mm; andwherein the tip end has a smaller radius than the opposed ends such thatthe tip end is sharper than the two opposed ends.
 13. The cleaning headof claim 1, wherein the cleaning head includes a pair of receiversattached to the top surface and configured to pivotally attach to ahandle.
 14. A cleaning head comprising: i) a paddle having: a) a centralportion which is substantially planar; b) a tip end integral with andadjacent to the central portion; c) two opposed ends opposite the tipend, distanced from one another, and integral with and adjacent centralportion; d) a top surface opposing a bottom surface, both the topsurface and the bottom surface being part of the central portion, thetip end, and the two opposed ends; e) a peripheral edge defining aperiphery of the paddle, including a plurality of side edges part ofcentral portion and which extend between the tip end and the opposedends; f) a thickness measured as a distance from the top surface to thebottom surface which is 0.07 inches to 0.25 inches; ii) a substrate,which is a compressive substrate, adhered to the bottom surface of thepaddle, wherein the substrate is configured to releasably connect acleaning element to the paddle such that the substrate is locatedbetween the cleaning element and the bottom surface of the paddle;wherein the peripheral edge, the top surface, and the bottom surface atthe tip end and the two opposed ends angle downward relative to theplurality of side edges so that the tip end and the opposed ends of thecleaning head are positioned at a downward angle relative to the topsurface and the bottom surface of the central portion; and wherein thedownward angle of the tip end and the opposed ends are operable togenerate increased downward force on a surface to be cleaned whendownward force is applied on the cleaning head toward the surface to becleaned.
 15. The cleaning head of claim 14, wherein the cleaning headincludes the cleaning element releasably connected to the substrate, thesubstrate the only connection of the cleaning element to the paddle. 16.The cleaning head of claim 14, wherein the substrate comprises athickness less than 0.125 inches.
 17. The cleaning head of claim 16,wherein the thickness of the substrate is between 0.001 to 0.1 inches.18. The cleaning head of claim 14, wherein the tip end is formed by thecleaning head narrowing to a sharp tip having a radius between about 1.0mm and about 19.05 mm; and wherein the tip end has a smaller radius thanthe opposed ends such that the tip end is sharper than the two opposedends.
 19. The cleaning head of claim 14, wherein the cleaning headincludes a pair of receivers attached to the top surface and configuredto pivotally attach to a handle.
 20. A cleaning head comprising: i) apaddle having: a) a central portion which is substantially planar; b) atip end integral with and adjacent to the central portion; c) twoopposed ends opposite the tip end, distanced from one another, andintegral with and adjacent to the central portion; d) a top surfaceopposing a bottom surface, both the top surface and the bottom surfacebeing part of the central portion, the tip end, and the two opposedends; e) a peripheral edge defining a periphery of the paddle, includinga plurality of side edges part of the central portion and which extendbetween the tip end and the opposed ends; ii) a substrate, which is acompressive material substrate, adhered to the bottom surface of thepaddle, wherein the compressive material substrate is configured toreleasably connect a cleaning element to the paddle such that thecompressive material substrate is located between the cleaning elementand the bottom surface of the paddle; iii) the cleaning element which isreleasably connected to the compressive material substrate; wherein theperipheral edge, the top surface, and the bottom surface at the tip endand the two opposed ends angle downward relative to the plurality ofside edges so that the tip end and the opposed ends of the cleaning headare positioned at a downward angle relative to the top surface and thebottom surface of the central portion; and wherein the downward angle ofthe tip end and the opposed ends are operable to generate increaseddownward force on a surface to be cleaned when downward force is appliedon the cleaning head toward the surface to be cleaned.